Father Knows Best

I've been meaning to publish a post like this since Maddie was only a few days old.

We (Maddie and I) are both in awe of our dearest, sweetest, most doting and caring hubby/papa, Marvelous Matty! Matt LOVES his little "punkin'-patch" baby girl. He treats little Madison Mae like a princess, showering her with love. He leaves her wanting NOTHING, and works tirelessly to make sure each and every one of her needs are met. Sometimes were girls can be nutty and exhausting, be he never stops loving us. We are truly so lucky, and, boy, do we know it!

Matt sees our needs before we ever have to say anything. Just a few examples of his thoughtfulness include:
1. In the hospital the nurses/lactation specialist mentioned that a Boppy might helpful when nursing. Matt didn't make me wait a day before he went right out and found us one. He even went the extra mile by finding the sweetest, softest pink cover for it in Maddie and my favorite fabric!


2. He found the cutest car sign to announce we had precious cargo in our backseat (something I would have never thought of) and began driving super cautiously to protect our sweet peanut as we cruised in the car. He even found a little mirror that would bounce back the reflection of the cutie in the car-seat as you glanced in the rear-view mirror (another tender touch I would have overlooked).



3. Matt insisted that Maddie have the best bottles, pacifiers, and diapers. When Maddie struggled to latch on to her Mam paci, we tried the NUK (she eventually went back to the Mam with great success). When the generic Wal-Mart diapers gave Maddie a bright red bum, he didn't make us finish out the pack before finding a more deluxe brand.


4. Matty loves to give Maddie her baths and bonds with her each night as he rocks her and puts her to bed. Oh, ya! And of course he...
5. Lovingly designed and created her beautiful nursery.

There are a million little evidences of how much Daddy loves Maddie. Matt is a man of ACTION and always says that actions speak louder than words. He can talk the talk, AND walk the walk. Thank you, babers, for SHOWING (not just telling) us how much you love us. WE ARE SOOOOOOOOOO LUCKY!

Meeting More Cousins

David and Ronni brought their cuties, Chandler and Brinlee, up to visit us in Logan last weekend. We had tons-o-fun, as fabulous family always will!

4th of July

Madison's first 4th of July was a BLAST (like firework BLAST...KABOOM!)! We very spontaneously ended up on the hill above campus watching the stadium fireworks that weekend. We attempted to have a cookout up Green Canyon, but the mosquitoes were horrendous and Lily, our chihuahua, literally faked death for some attention. We hastily packed up and were on our way back in to town to take her to the vet or bury her if we were too late when she magically revived. So we finished our cookout in a beautiful hidden park in the middle of town instead. On the actual 4th, Monday, we decided to head out to Newton Reservoir to go fishing but it was so nutso with all the holiday fishers that we just kept on driving. We ended up in exotic Preston, Idaho. Neither Matt or I had ever been there and it was actually quite a delight. We laid a blanket out in a park and relaxed with our drinks and treats. That night we went out to Hyrum to watch the fireworks with Josh and Lindy. The "boys" (grown men, but you'd never know) had a riot blasting each other with fireworks in the driveway. It was SUCH a relaxing, wonderful weekend. We HEART America, holidays, and good family fun!

Tangerine & Mango

Yes, this happened!





Some exotic dancers showed up at Jenn's (Matt's sister who always executes elaborate pranks and was due some serious "pay-back") reception. Josh and Matt added some sizzling, sexy, excitement to the dance floor with their shockingly expert stripper moves. They got the older ladies hot and bothered (it didn't help that some were intoxicated and highly "handsy") HILARIOUS!

Jenn (and EVERYONE) enjoyed the stunt immensely. On a more classy note, her wedding was beautiful. We love their beautiful family and are so happy for them . . . CONGRATS, Paul, Jenn, and crew!

Sick & Steamy

NO BABIES WERE INTOXICATED IN THE MAKING OF THIS BLOG POST!


(Catching up on posts before we leave on a 2 week vacation and I get so behind I just give up. I apologize for the old posts. Maddie isn't shrinking, I'm just going back in time)

Poor Maddie got horribly congested at just 2 weeks old. I would rather be sick for a year than have my newborn baby be sick for a week! It was terrifying holding her upright all night as she'd choke and gag, not being able to breathe out of her mouth yet. Her first week was healthy but stressful as we were waiting on my breastmilk to come in. Then, during week two of her little life, the milk was on its way in just as she got too sick to be able to breastfeed! The sickness lingered for far too long, several weeks.

We did everything we could to help our little booger. In the end, a saline nose solution to loosen up the mucus and then suck it out in combination with a humidifier were about the only things that helped.

We had long "steaming in our undies" sessions with the steam humidifier, sitting upright and chillaxing. The pharmacist recommended a cool mist humidifier to help with inflammation (she still sleeps with it on every night--it helps congestion and has a gentle hum that blocks out background noise and soothes her).

Matt's granny and sis swore by the magic of a cup of vodka in the humidifier. We were just desperate enough to try it! Matt ran to the liquor store and when an attendant came to help him, he proclaimed, "I NEED SOME VODKA FOR MY BABY!" Funny stuff.

P.S. Baby is doing much better now and has made up for her sad, fussy, sick weeks with a few solid weeks of smiles, giggles, and more delightful-ness!

Madison MAE's Special Name

Madison has a very special name.

Madison means "Daughter of Matthew." So perfect since she's such a daddy's girl in looks and love.

Her middle name, Mae, is special for many reasons. First, and most insignificant, for the simple reason that she did, in fact, come in May (we were worried they for a minute, thinking she'd wait it out in Momma's tummy clear into June). But there are many people who share that special middle name with Maddie (we didn't really even realize this to its full extent until after she was born and relatives kept popping out of the woodwork)!

Mike (Kaye's big brother) and Emily's little girl, Amy, shares this middle name with Madison.


Amy was named this because of her and Maddie's great-grandma Clyda "Mae." Some of Clyda's friends used to call her Clyda Mae even though it wasn't her name. When she submitted her wedding announcement to the San Juan Record, the editor just assumed she forgot to put it in her article and kindly added it:)

On Matt's side, there is a slew of Maes! He has an Aunt Julie MAE and a cousin, her daughter, Maggie MAE.



Matt's Grandpa has a sister, Ralphie Mae. And his great-grandma, Flossie, shared the middle name Mae as well.

Madison Mae has a legacy of great Maes to look up to. What a lucky, special name (and we didn't even know)!

The Million Faces of Miss Madison Mae

Maddie can pull 50 faces in 5 minutes. As Jodi and Matt finished a tennis tourney, I captured these beauties in an impromptu photo shoot. Oh, I love my expressive baby girl!

Aunts Rule!

Madison's Aunts Rule...every stinkin' one of 'em! Here she is with Aunt Jill and Aunt Jodi. She is one lucky peanut!

THE. . . THE. . . THE GRINCH!

Maddie is NOT Grinchy in temperament (well, not usually). But she does share some uncanny physical similarities (with the Jim Carrey version). Aunt Jodi was the first to point it out. Madison's hair naturally forms the perfect point on the peak of her head. It can make her look adorably cone-headed. She also does the cutest expression where she raises up her eyebrows and makes the wrinkliest forehead. She aint green or mean, she's got a big, non-black heart, but we'll admit there is an uncanny resemblance!

Maddie also looks a TON like her handsome papa. She's a mini-me version of Matthew Michael. Her name, Madison, means "Daughter or Matthew" which is perfect! And look at this picture of Dad's handsome "swoop" in his hair. Oh, I love my gorgeous "grinches."



*ADDITION* Jodi texted and made sure to proclaim that Maddie is much, much, MUCH more adorable than the Grinch. Yet, still . . .

Maybe she's a little more like a Kewpie--funny, I thought it would be spelled "Cupie" doll. I call her my little Kewpie Doll quite often. The plastic swoop of hair forming a cone on the doll's head is similar to Maddie's wild 'do.

So Tute (Tute=Cute)!!!

My sweet nephew, Tyler, coined the term "tute" for cute (a little speech therapy has cleared that "tute" impediment right up but the expressions will forever remain).

Well, we all agree (and are, of course, a little biased) that Madison Mae is SO TUTE!

ODE TO MADISON:
Happy or sad,
Mad or glad,
Maddie Mae
Will brighten your day!

Even Maddie's sad tantrums are so TUTE! Madison is VERY sensitive and, if her tender feelings get hurt, she will poke out her bottom lip and give it a heart-breaking (and hilarious) quiver before she erupts. She can sound just like a little goat when she bleats out her fake cry signaling she needs to be held, cuddled, noticed, and adored. She is a HUGE cuddle bug and would prefer to be held all day, every day!

Her happy, smiley, giggly moments are even more TUTE. At right around a month old, Maddie started flashing her real smile (she always smiled tons in her sleep and as she passed a good gas bubble). This week (week 5) she has perfected her bright, beaming grin. Oh, how this tute little peanut lights up our hearts while rocking our world. The proof is in the videos:

We'll start with the fake cry/lip quiver/tute little sad Maddie:



And on a brighter note:
Maddie's Smiles/Giggles